Tossin' & Turnin'
Ray Hoff & The Offbeats Lyrics
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I couldn't sleep a wink last night just a-thinking of you
Baby things weren't right I kept on tossin' and turnin'
Turnin' and tossin' tossin' and turnin' all night
I threw the blankets on the floor, turned my pillow upside down
Then I thought of you some more
And I kept on tossin' and turnin' turnin' and tossin'
Tossin' and turnin' all night
Pulled down the shade went to the kitchen for a bite
Pulled up the shade, turned off the light
I jumped back into bed it was the middle of the night
The clock downstairs was striking four, couldn't get you off my mind
Heard the milkman at the door but I was tossin' and turnin'
The lyrics to Ray Hoff & The Offbeats's song Tossin' & Turnin' describe a restless night of sleep as a result of a lingering and intense infatuation with someone. The singer is unable to get any rest, as thoughts of this person consume their mind and keep them awake all night. Even attempting to change their sleeping conditions by flipping the pillow over and throwing the blankets on the floor does not quell the racing thoughts. The singer tries to distract themselves by going to the kitchen for a snack and trying to ignore the situation, but they keep thinking about the person until the early morning hours.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the kind of fervid, all-consuming desire that can keep someone awake at night. The repetition of the phrases "tossin' and turnin'" and "all night" emphasize the long and sleepless night. Even when the singer tries to distract themselves with food or adjust their surroundings, they are unable to escape their own thoughts about this person.
It is clear from the lyrics that the singer is completely infatuated with this person, to the point where they cannot think of anything else. The song captures the intensity of young love and the restless energy that can come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby, can't you see what you're doing to me?
Addressing someone and asking them to realize the effect they are having on the singer.
I couldn't sleep a wink last night just a-thinking of you
Unable to sleep due to constantly thinking about the person being addressed.
Baby things weren't right I kept on tossin' and turnin'
Expressing that something was wrong and the singer's resulting inability to sleep, indicated by the tossing and turning.
Turnin' and tossin' tossin' and turnin' all night
Continuing to struggle with sleeping, characterized by repeated tossing and turning throughout the whole night.
I threw the blankets on the floor, turned my pillow upside down
Trying to change the sleeping environment in order to get comfortable and fall asleep, such as rearranging blankets and pillows.
Then I thought of you some more and I kept on tossin' and turnin'
Returning to thoughts of the person being addressed, resulting in continued difficulty sleeping as indicated by more tossing and turning.
Tossin' and turnin' turnin' and tossin' Tossin' and turnin' all night
Repeating the struggle to sleep, known as tossing and turning, throughout the entire night.
Jumped out of bed, turned on the light Pulled down the shade went to the kitchen for a bite
Getting out of bed and attempting to find something to eat in order to distract from thoughts of the person being addressed.
Pulled up the shade, turned off the light I jumped back into bed it was the middle of the night
Returning to bed in hopes of falling asleep, but it is now even later than before.
The clock downstairs was striking four, couldn't get you off my mind
Noticing the time of 4 AM and still unable to stop thinking about the person being addressed.
Heard the milkman at the door but I was tossin' and turnin'
Being aware of an outside noise, such as the milkman, but still unable to sleep and continuing to toss and turn.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DWAYNE P. WIGGINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pontacelli
A great musician, and a great guy. Im glad to have had the pleasure of meeting him fairly recently, but also to have seen him play in the early days with the Offbeats. May he Rest in Peace and join the other great musicians in the heavenly stadium! AJB
@garry57
What a loss. R.I.P the real king of Australian rock'n'roll. Anybody who missed seeing Ray Hoff really missed someone special.
@garry57
As far as Australian rock n roll goes Ray Hoff was and still is the only real deal. He's still playing just as good.
@BEATNIKCASS
loved him from day one----he was very big in adelaide----bobby freeman's version was hard to beat but ray did it great
@BEATNIKCASS
he was the real rockin' deal----shoulda been played more on radio back then.
@mikaeladuckworth6563
Thankyou,! It’s goin in my soundtrack of life for my wake with pride and shame. I’m WestAustralian, don’t recall hearing it often but it’s brilliant!
@TombstoneHeart
I saw Ray and the Offbeats at the old Capitol Theatre in Perth as a support act for some one who's name I can't remember now, probably cos Ray and his band cut the headliner off at the knees that night. He had a 6, maybe 7 piece band that night, all dressed in white trousers and cherry-red jackets - horns, bass, drums, guitar and maybe a piano player and they blew everyone off stage. The crowd went completely nuts during his set, standing on the seats, yelling, screaming, cheering. A top night
@pauljoseph8691
What!? Garage punk from an Aussie hero. Should have been the biggest star. Beautiful photo of 4 greats.
@usfansw
I was there the night Ray Hoff won the talent quest singing Bob-a-Lena. Leichardt dance with JOK. 2nd place was The Flea singing Endless Sleep. Just learned Ray had departed by reading it on this site. He deserved a better run with his music.
@BEATNIKCASS
loved the hoffbeats and ray in the 60s at henley beach----the hippest aussie rocker was he.